TRAVEL Lose yourself in Dublin
With a burgeoning foodie scene, historic sights and an abundance of green spaces, Ireland’s vibrant capital doesn’t fail to delight
Dublin STAY
An oasis in the heart of the city, The Westbury Hotel sits among Dublin’s finest addresses. The spacious suites in a palette of cool neutrals ( 1) have a contemporary feel, the views are dazzling and we defy you to find a comfier bed. Armed with reams of insider tips, staff are briskly efficient and ever-so charming. A truly superb city stay.
TASTE
A stone’s throw from the River Liffey, Brother Hubbard is a go-to for cinnamon and walnut scrolls washed down with iced coffee, before lunch at cool Glovers Alley overlooking St Stephen’s Green, where you’ll find the finest seasonal Irish produce on a fourcourse menu that doesn’t fail to hit the spot. A recent addition to Dublin’s dining scene, Mister S tempts with flavour-forward fare cooked over charcoal, while The Westbury’s Wilde restaurant ( 3) turns out refined comfort food – such as herb-crusted lamb cutlet and Carlingford Lough oysters with shallot mignonette. For postdinner drinks, step back in time with stylish cocktails at The Sidecar.
INDULGE
For retail therapy, hotfoot it to Brown Thomas for rails of designer pieces, while Scout has simple cotton tees alongside handwoven throws and lambskin rugs from local makers. Article is another gem for contemporary homeware, while Ulysses Rare Books is the finest bookshop in the city; expect to find early editions from the likes of James Joyce and Flann O’Brien.
EXPLORE
Art lovers should head for Trinity College ( 2) and the Long Room, with its spectacular vaulted ceilings and walls of ancient tomes, then skip across Ha’Penny Bridge to the studio of Francis Bacon, now preserved at the Hugh
Lane Gallery. If you need a break from the hubbub, watch herds of deer in Phoenix Park or make for the scenic expanses of the Wicklow uplands, within easy reach of the city.
Rates at The Westbury start from €360 (about £305) on a B&B basis; visit doylecollection.com. Aer Lingus flies from London Heathrow to Dublin from £140 return; visit aerlingus.com. For up-to-date advice on amber-list or other destinations, visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.